A New Beginning, Old Memories
Leo jolted awake, the hard cobblestones beneath him pressing uncomfortably into his back. His heart raced as he took in the familiar surroundings—the bustling streets, the towering marble buildings, and the unmistakable hum of life in Ancient Rome.
The sun was high in the sky, illuminating the city with a golden glow just as it had when he first got there. Merchants call out from their stalls with offers of their wares for eager buyers. Children were laughing as they dart through the crowds, and there was the smell of freshly baked bread intermingling with the earthy stench of the streets.
For a moment, Leo thought it had all been a dream. The Senate, Caesar, the conspirators, the blade—it all felt so distant, like a fading memory. But when he looked down at himself, his heart sank.
He was wearing the same clothes he'd been in when this all began—his college hoodie, jeans, and sneakers standing out starkly against the tunics and togas of the Romans around him.
"No way," Leo whispered, sitting up slowly. His hands trembled as he touched his chest, his arms, his face. He was here, again.
The memories came flooding back like a tidal wave—Caesar's wrath, Antony's loyalty, Cassius's schemes, and the haunting words of the system: Quest Failed and He sees you and your growth.
His pulse quickened as he frantically summoned the system window.
System Activated.
With a familiar shimmer, the translucent screen appeared before him, its cool glow both comforting and unsettling. His stats were displayed exactly as he had left them, his remaining unspent stat points still intact.
Name: Leo Carter
Level: 4
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 13
Intelligence: 12
Charisma: 11
Skills:
Blade Mastery Lv. 1
Observation Lv. 2
Persuasion Lv. 1
Inventory:
Rune Blade (Sealed)
Basic Health Elixirs x2
Golden Drachmas x50
His fingers hovered over the stats, and he let out a shaky laugh. "It's all still here... Even the blade," he muttered, reaching into his inventory and materializing the rune blade in his hand. Its surface shimmered faintly, the runes carved into its length glowing with a quiet, dormant power.
But why? Why had he been sent back?
He looked around, the crowd passing over him as if he didn't exist. No one gave him a second glance; they went on with their lives. It was the same day, the same moment when he had first set foot here.
The weight of realization settled heavily on his shoulders. This wasn't just a reset; it was a chance—a second attempt to set things right. But could he? The conspirators' schemes, Caesar's fate, and the ominous presence hinted at by the system—all of it loomed over him like a storm cloud.
As Leo stood, brushing off his jeans, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
"You there! Are you lost?"
He turned to see a Roman soldier approaching, the same one who had found him on his first arrival. The man's expression was stern, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"No," Leo said, his voice steady this time. He straightened his posture, gripping the hilt of his blade tightly before tucking it back into his inventory. "I know exactly where I need to be."
The soldier raised an eyebrow but shrugged, motioning for Leo to follow him. "Good. Then let's move along. You don't want to linger in the streets looking like. that."
Leo nodded and followed, his mind racing. This time, he had the advantage. He knew the players, the stakes, and the outcomes that awaited if he failed.
"This time," he muttered under his breath, "I'll make sure the story ends differently."
As the streets of Rome swirled around him, Leo felt a newfound sense of purpose. He was no longer a lost traveler; he was a man armed with knowledge, a blade, and a determination to rewrite fate itself.